Insect electrocutor

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a flying insect electrocutor including a pair of spaced side panels, and two bottom supports spaced below the housing and also extending between the side panels. A pair of planar electric grids are positioned between the side panels. The grids diverge outwardly in a downward direction. Black light lamps are positioned within the grids to attract the insects. A collection tray is removably positioned beneath the grids.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,729,857 Giordano 1 May 1, I973 [5INSECT ELECTROCUTOR 1,899,199 2 1933 Kaiser ..43/112 [75] Inventor:franla L. Giordano, Stone Moun- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS am, a.

245,515 6/1963 Australia ..43/ll2 [73] Assigneez Insect-O-Cutor, Inc.,Stone Moun- Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee 22 Filed: Feb. 23, 1971A1wrney-0wen&0wen

[21] Appl.N0.: 117,944

[5 7 ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to a flying insect electrocutorincluding a pair of spaced side panels, and two bottom supports spacedbelow the housing and also extending between the side panels. A pair ofplanar electric grids are positioned between the side panels. The gridsdiverge outwardly in a downward direction. Black light lamps arepositioned within the grids to attract the insects. A collection tray isremovably positioned beneath the grids.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR: FHA NKL. 5105mm. BY WW- 4 IE'Z" JITTVS.

Patented May 1, 1973 3,729,857

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR." FRANKL. GIURDANU.

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INSECT ELECTROCUTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a flying insect electrocutor havingdirect ray black light attraction. At least one black light lamp ispositioned between a pair of diverging arid planar electrical grids. Theelectrical grids generally form an inverted V configuration. A readilyremovable collection tray is positioned below the grids to receive thedead flying insects.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improvedflying insect electrocutor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation ofa flying insect electrocutor according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1and indicating diagrammatically by dashed lines and arrows the pathsalong which the flying insects approach the black lights;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a grid assembly; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the mounting of the blacklight lamps. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, aflying insect electrocutor, according to the present invention, isindicated by the reference number 10. The flying insect trap includes aframe assembly 11, whichin the present embodiment comprises arectangular housing having a top 12, a bottom 13 and two opposed sidewalls 14 and 15. The bottom 13 is integral with the side wall 15. Theside wall 14 has a lower lip 16 which receives and supports one side ofthe bottom 13. The top 12 has a pair of longitudinally extendingdepending edges 17 and 18. The side wall 14 is connected to thedepending edge 17 by a pair of sheet metal screws 19. Similarly, theintegral side wall and bottom 13 are connected to the top 12 by a pairof sheet metal screws 20. The longitudinally extending frame assembly 11defines a space 21 within which is positioned a transformer 22. In thepresent embodiment, the transformer 22 has a llO-l volt primary inputwith a 4,000 volt, 9 milliampere secondary output. A ballast housing 23is also positioned within the space 21. In the present embodiment, theballast housing 23 includes a two-lamp ballast circuit for rapid orinstanbstarting lamps.

A pair of I-bolts 25 are attached to the top 12 of the frame assembly 11and are used, for example, to suspend the flying insect trap 20 at adesired location above a food processing or packaging operation. A pairof side panels 26 and 27 are positioned in an opposed relationshipadjacent the ends of the top I2. The frame assembly 11 extends betweenthe side panels 26 and 27. i

A pair of planar electrical grids 28 and 29, which are in electricalcommunication with the transformer 22, are positioned between the sidepanels 26 and 27. The grids are generally planar and diverge outwardlyin a downward direction. As shown in FIG. 2, a vertical cross section ofthe grids 28 and 29 form an inverted V configuration. This is animportant feature of the present invention. It has been found thatbecause of the present configuration the problem of having electrocutedflying insects falling downwardly, upon a food processing or packagingoperation, is minimized.

The grids 28 and 29 include insulating supports 30 i (see FIGS. 1 and 3)which are connected at their upper ends to angle brackets 31 which arein turn connected to the bottom 13 of the frame assembly 11. The grids28 and 29 also include parallel grid wires 32 which are held in theirproper position by the insulated supports 30. Referring to FIG. 3,alternate ones of the grid wires 32 are in communication with the twosides of the electrical circuit to form a high voltage electrical fieldbetween the adjacent pairs of grid wires 32. A pair of bottom supports35 (see FIG. 2) extend between the side panels 26 and 27. The lowermostends of the insulated supports 30 of the grids 28 and 29 are attached toangles 36 which are connected to the bottom supports 35.

The bottom supports 35 include inwardly directed 'lips 38 at theirlowermost edges. The inwardly directed lips 38 tend to direct fallinginsects into a collection tray 39 which is removably positioned belowthe grids I 28 and 29.

The collection tray 39 is rectangular in the present embodiment and isremovably attached by latches 40 which are mounted adjacent the loweredges of the side panels 26 and 27. The collection tray 39 includes aside wall 41 and a bottom wall 42. Each of the latches 40 includes alatch element 43 which is mounted on one of the side panels 26 or 27.However, one or more of the latch elements may be mounted on the bottomsupports 35 if desired (not shown). The latch element 43 cooperates withanother latch element 44 which is mounted on the side wall 41 of thecollection tray 39. In the present embodiment, the latch elements 43include a vertically movable ring 45 which cooperates with a notch 46defined by the latch element 44.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, two longitudinally extending black lightlamps 48 and 49 are mounted below the frame assembly 11 and arepositioned between the diverging grids 28 and 29. The black light lamps48 and 49 direct rays of controlled spectrum light in such a manner thatflying insects are attracted toward the lamps 48 and 49 along pathswhich pass through the grid wires 32. It has been found that the presentinvention is superior to prior art indirect or reflected light raystructures. In the present embodiment lamp sockets 50 are supported byspring mounted brackets 51 which depend from the bottom 13 of the frameassembly 11. Similarly, sockets 52 are supported by spring mountedbrackets 53 which are mounted on an angle 54 attached to the side panels26' and 27. The sockets 50 receive the black light lamp 48 and thesockets 52 receive the black light lamp 49. Electrical wires 55 and 56are each connected to a 110-115 volt circuit within the space 21 definedby the frame assembly 11.

In operation, the flying insect trap is connected to a source ofelectrical power. The electrical grids 28 and 29 are energized alongwith the lamps 48 and 49. Flying insects are attracted to the lamps 48and 49 and move generally along the paths indicated by the dashed linesin FIG. 2. As the flying insects strike or pass the electrical grids 28and 29, they are electrocuted and fall downwardly into the collectiontray 39. It has been found that the present flying insect trap 10provides a most efficient apparatus for controlling flying insects infood processing and packaging plants. After a period of time, thecollection tray 39 is removed by releasing the latches 40 and the tray39 is emptied. The tray 39 is then replaced and the trap 10 is againready for operation.

What I claim is:

1. An escape proof flying insect electrocutor comprising, incombination, a pair of spaced side panels, frame means extending betweensaid side panels, a pair of planar electric grids positioned betweensaid side panels, said grids diverging outwardly in a downward directionwhereby a vertical cross section of said grids forms an inverted V, ahigh voltage power source in electrical communication with said grids,black light lamp means, effective to emit direct rays of controlledspectrum light, positioned between said diverging grids, two bottomsupports extending between said side panels, each of said bottomsupports having an upper edge extending upwardly above the lowermostedge of an adjacent grid, whereby insects striking points ad jacent thelowermost edge of a grid are restrained from egressing from said flyinginsect electrocutor by said bottom supports, a collection traypositioned below said grids, said bottom supports having a portionpositioned adjacent said collection tray, whereby dead insects falldownwardly into said collection tray, said collection tray comprising abottom and an upstanding side wall, and attaching means for removablyholding said collection tray beneath said grids.

2. A flying insect electrocutor, according to claim 1,

wherein said frame means comprises a hollow housing extending betweensaid side panels.

3. A flying insect electrocutor, according to claim 2, wherein said lampmeans includes two black light lamps positioned beneath said hollowhousing.

4. A flying insect electrocutor, according to claim 1, wherein saidattaching means comprises cooperating latch elements mounted on saidside panels and said collection tray side walls, respectively.

planar electric grids terminating at a lower end, said inwardly directelips extending upwardly above said lower ends of said grids, wherebyinsects striking points adjacent said lower ends of said grids arerestrained from egressing from said flying insect electrocutor by saidlips, a high voltage power source in electrical communication with saidgrids, said power source including a transformer positioned within saidspace, at least two black light lamps, effective to emit direct rays ofcontrolled spectrum light, positioned beneath said frame means andbetween said grids, and a removably mounted collection tray positionedbelow said grids, said bottom supports having a portion positionedadjacent said collection tray, whereby dead insects fall downwardly intosaid collection tray.

7. A flying insect electrocutor, according to claim'l,

, wherein said bottom supports include lower edges which extenddownwardly into said collection tray.

8. A flying insect .electrocutor, according to claim 7,

including inwardly directed lips on said lower edges of said bottomsupports.

1. An escape proof flying insect electrocutor comprising, incombination, a pair of spaced side panels, frame means extending betweensaid side panels, a pair of planar electric grids positioned betweensaid side panels, said grids diverging outwardly in a downward directionwhereby a vertical cross section of said grids forms an inverted V, ahigh voltage power source in electrical communication with said grids,black light lamp means, effective to emit direct rays of controlledspectrum light, positioned between said diverging grids, two bottomsupports extending between said side panels, each of said bottomsupports having an upper edge extending upwardly above the lowermostedge of an adjacent grid, whereby insects striking points adjacent thelowermost edge of a grid are restrained from egressing from said flyinginsect electrocutor by said bottom supports, a collection traypositioned below said grids, said bottom supports having a portionpositioned adjacent said collection tray, whereby dead insects falldownwardly into said collection tray, said collection tray comprising abottom and an upstanding side wall, and attaching means for removablyholding said collection tray beneath said grids.
 2. A flying insectelectrocutor, according to claim 1, wherein said frame means comprises ahollow housing extending between said side panels.
 3. A flying insectelectrocutor, according to claim 2, wherein said lamp means includes twoblack light lamps positioned beneath said hollow housing.
 4. A flyinginsect electrocutor, according to claim 1, wherein said attaching meanscomprises cooperating latch elements mounted on said side panels andsaid collection tray side walls, respectively.
 5. A flying insectelectrocutor, according to claim 1, wherein said collection tray isrectangular.
 6. An escape proof flying insect electrocutor comprising,in combination, a longitudinally extending frame means defining a spacetherein, means for suspending said electrocutor, opposed side panelsadjacent each end of said frame means, a pair of bottom supportsextending between said opposed side panels, said bottom supports havinginwardly directed lips, a pair of planar electric grids mounted belowsaid frame means and between said side panels, said grids divergingoutwardly in a downward direction, each of said planar electric gridsterminating at a lower end, said inwardly directed lips extendingupwardly above said lower ends of said grids, whereby insects strikingpoints adjacent said lower ends of said grids are restrained fromegressing from said flying insect electrocutor by said lips, a highvoltage power source in electrical communication with said grids, saidpower source including a transformer positioned within said space, atleast two black light lamps, effective to emit direct rays of controlledspectrum light, positioned beneath said frame means and between saidgrids, and a removably mounted collection tray positioned below saidgrids, said bottom supports having a portion positioned adjacent saidcollection tray, whereby dead insects fall downwardly into saidcollection tray.
 7. A flying insect electrocutor, according to claim 1,wherein said bottom supports include lower edges which extend downwardlyinto said collection tray.
 8. A flying insect electrocutor, according toclaim 7, including inwardly directed lips on said lower edges of saidbottom supports.